Skating rink



Aug. 13, 1935. F, s sTRlTE 2,010,831

SKATING RINK Filed 001. 1o, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F. S. STRITE Aug. 13,1935.

SKATING RINK Filed Oct. 10, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gme'ntoi Slz ifePatented Aug 13, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relatesto skating J rinks, and more particularly to a skating rink which can beformed within a swimming pool,.or the like.

Ari object of this invention is to provide means which' may be readilyinserted in any desired depression or tank whereby ice may beformedwithin the tank or reservoir, the ice being of any an ice makingapparatus which canbe readily desired thickness, depending upon the usefor the ice.

A further object of this invention is to provide coupled up with thewater circulating system for the swimming pool or tank, so that the tankmay be used during the winter months or during the cooler months for iceskating and used for swimming purposes during the warmer months.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a movable flooror ice supporting member which can be suitably adjustedwithin thetankand maintained in such adjusted position during the time the tank isused for ice skating orlduring the time that the tank has the icecoatedsurface therein. l

Still another object of this invention is to provide an ice supportingmember which is ofrelatively flexible or resilient construction, so thatwhen th supporting member is lowered within the tank so that the tankcan be used for swimming purposes,, the supporting "member willsubstantially conform to the configuration of the tank floor or bottom.1 v i v The above and various other objects and advantages of thisinvention will in part bedescribed in and in part be understood from thefollowing detailed description of the present preferred embodiment, thesame being illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:- I

' Figure l is a detail top plan view partly broken I away. of a deviceconstructed according to the preferred embodiment of this inventionmounted,

View showing the preferred manner of elevating the ice supporting flooror member and maintaining the floor in desired elevated position.

Referring to the drawings wherein like 1 numerals of reference designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral l0designates generally a tanker reservoir used for swimming purposes, orfor the purpose of receiving a relatively large quantity of water. Thistank or reservoir it is provided with an inclined bottom it which has adrain outlet l3 to which attached a pipe connection 12. This pipeconnection I2 is connected to a drain pipe l4 and apump or waterpressure member is interposed in this pipe M, so as to draw the waterout of the drain Island pass this water through the circulating pipe l6,which returns the water or liquid back to the tank or reservoir it.

A conventional water filteringmember F is in- .terposed in the pipeconnection 5, so as to filter this water as it is continuouslycirculated through the pipe It; and back to the tank or swimming poolIt. A motor orup'ower member M is connected to the pump l5., In order toconvert the tank or reservoir I0 into askating rink or to provide afrozen surface adjacent the upper. edge thereof, I have provided arelatively large plate or ice supporting member, generally designated asI 1, which is constructed in the form of a sheet of metal ofsuitable'thickness but having relative flexibility, the'purpose forwhich will be hereinafter described; This ice supporting member I? iselevated withtrespect to the bottom Hxof the reservoir It by means of aplurality of jacks J which engage the bottom I l and are threadablyengaged with the ice supporting floor or member ll; These jack members Jare operable at will so thatqthe ice supporting member ll can be raisedas may be desired, whether the member I? has ice thereon or not. Thesejack members J have a square or angular head i8 by which or lower theice supporting member ll as desired. A considerable number of these jackmembers J are used which are spacedly mounted in substantially verticalposition on the floor 5 l and are spaced apart sufiiciently so that theice supporting t member ll will be maintained in a substantially p thescrew members may be turned so as to raise V horizontal position." Thevertical wall 19 of the water will seep downwardly into the spacebetween the ice s upporting member IT and the bottom It oi the tank 10.

In order to freeze the water positioned on the ice supporting plate'llwithin the curb 26, I have provided a plurality of spray members 22which are connected to lateral pipe connections 23 which in turn areconnected to longitudinally extending pipe members 24. These pipemembers 24 are connected to a feed pipe 25 which in turn iscon- V nectedwith the pipe line l5 of the swimming pool pipe system. A brine coolingmember B is interposed in a pipe line 26 which is connected at each endto the pipe line l6 by means of short pipe connections 2?, and valvemembers 28 and 2d are interposed in the pipe lineifi and are adaptedtocontrol the passage of brine or other cooling medium through the coolingmember B.

Valve members 33 and iii are mounted in the pipe line iii, one on eachside of the water filtering member F, so that when the circulatingsystem for the pool is used for conducting the cooling medium to'thespray members 22, the filtering member F may be cut out and the coolingmedium passed through the liquid cooling member B, using the pump orcirculating member for the cooling medium in the same manner as it isnow being used for the pool circulating system. The ice supporting platell is provided adjacent each corner thereofwith trap doors T, so thataccess may be had to the space between the supporting member ill and thebottom ll. of the tank. A drain valve 32 is interposed in the pipe linei l and is provided with an elongated stem 33 having a hand wheel 32mounted thereon, so that when the pool or tank is being used forswimming purposes, the water may be drained out of the tank and systemto a suitable source of drainage.

In the use of this device, during the time that the' tank H3 is beingused as a swimming pool or for holding liquids, or the like, the icesupporting floor ll may be lowered so that it will contact with thefloor l l and the screws 35 forming a portionof the jack constructionmay be removed. Due to theflexibility of the floor ll, when this flooris lowered so as to contact with the bottom I I, it will substantiallyconform to the configuration of the floor and the openings in the floorll causedby removing the screw members 35 will permit the water in thepool if to flow on the inclined surface of the bottom I 1! toward thedrain opening is. Preferably, the bottom H is provided with a pluralityof base members 35 for the jacks J, so that the bottom ll will not liefiat on the bottom H, but will be held in spacedrelation thereto soas'to permit the free circulation of water in the pool. During the useof the tank it as a pool, the valves 28 and 29 will be closed and thevalves 36 and 3! opened so as'to permit the water to circulate throughthe pipes I l and it without passing through the cooling member B. Whenit is'desired to use the tank iii as a skating rink or the like, thejack members 35 may be inserted in desired position and the ice fioor llraised to the desired height and the longitudinal pipe connections 24connected up to the brine header 25. A suitable brine or liquid isplaced in the system, this liquid being such that when it is properlycooled in the brine cooling member B and sprayed through the spraynozzles 22,-it will cool the ice floor ll suiiiciently to freeze wateron the upper surface of the floor ll" to any desired thickness.

After the liquid is ejected from the spray nozzles and drops downwardlyfrom the lower surface of the ice bottom member ll, it will drain intothe outlet 53 and be drawn back into the system by means of the pumpmember l5. In this manner, a relatively small quantity ofbrine 'orfreezing liquid may be used, the liquid being used continuously and noneof the liquid passing out of the system until the drain valve 32 isopened. While the floor l'i has been designed for the purpose ofsupporting ice within the tank ii), I do not wish to be limited to thisparticular construction as, if desired, other material may be placed onthe floor ll so that any desired games or sports events may be played onthis elevated floor construction.

It will be obvious, from the foregoing, that whereapool has beenprovided in the interior of a building or the like, it will be possibleto use the space occupied by the pool for purposes other than swimming,so that where the amount of space available is relatively limited, anydesired sports such as swimming, ice skating, tennis or other sportsevents may be held by using the device hereinbefore described.

The use of the words swimming pool in the claims is to be construed asany tank or kindred structure having a drain in the bottom thereof.

It is, of course, understood that various changes and modifications maye made in the details of construction and design of the abovespecifically described embodiment of this invention without departingfrom the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restrictedonly by the scope of the following claims. 1

What is claimed is:'

l. A device of the character described comprising the combination with aswimming pool structure and a liquid circulating system for the swimmingpool, of a removably. mounted plate positioned within the poolstructure, means for retaining a liquid on the plate, means forsupporting the plate in upwardly spaced relation to the bottom of thepool, liquid cooling means interposed in the circulating system of thepool, and means disposed intermediate the plate and the bottom of thepool for projecting a cooling medium against the lower surface of theplate.

2. A device of the character described comprising the combination with aswimming pool structure including a liquid circulating system, of aplate disposed within the vertical walls of the pool, means forsupporting the plate in a position above the bottom of the pool, saidmeans including screw members engaging the bottom of the pool and theplate, liquid cooling means interposed in the circulating system, andmeans for projecting a cooling medium against the bottom of the platewhereby to freeze a liquid disposed .on the upper surface thereof.

3. A device of the character described comprising the combination with aswimming pool structure and a liquid circulating system for the swimmingpool, of a removably mounted plate disposed within the vertical walls ofthe pool, means for supporting the plate in an elevated position, meansfor retaining a liquid on the upper surface of the plate, a trap doorcarried by the plate whereby to permit entrance to the space between theplate and the bottom of the pool, and means for projecting a coolingmedium against the bottom of the plate whereby to freeze the liquidpositioned on the upper surface of the plate.

4. A device of the character described comprising a plate, means forretaining a liquid on the upper surface of the plate intermediate themarginal edges thereof, means for supporting the plate in an elevatedposition, said supporting means including a plurality of jack membershaving a portion thereof projecting through the plate whereby to permitvertical adjustment of the plate, and means engaging the bottom of theplate whereby to freeze the liquid positioned on the upper surfacethereof.

5. A device as described comprising a horizontally disposed liquidholding member, a catch basin below the member having an areasubstantially equal to the area of the member, means for supporting themember in adjusted position relative to the basin, and means supportedintermediate the member and the basin to project a cooling means againstthe bottom of the member for freezing of a liquid positioned on top ofthe member, saidcatch basinreceiving the. cooling means dropping fromthe member..

W6. A device as described comprising a horizontally disposedliquidholding member, a catch basin below the member having an areasubstantially equal to the area of the member, means.

supported intermediate the member and the basin to project a coolingmeans against the bottom of the member, said catch basin receiving thecooling means dropping from the member, and means for supporting themember in adjusted position relative to the projecting means. i

7. A device as described comprising a liquid holding member, a catchbasin disposed below the member, means disposed betweenthe member andthe basin for freezing a liquid carried by the member, and supportingmeans for supporting said member in adjusted position, said supportingmeans being operable from above the member and being removable throughthe member.

8. A device as described comprising a liquid holding member, a catchbasin 3 disposed below the member, means between themember and the catchbasin for freezing a liquidcarried by the member, and meansoperableifrom above the" member and extensible 'therjethrough for sup}porting the member inadjusted position relative to the freezing means. ii Y- 9. A device as described comprising a liquid holding member, acatch basin disposed below the member, means ldisposed between the"member and the basin for freezing a liquid'carried by the member, andthreaded supporting members rotatably carried by the basin andthreadably engaging the member to support the member in adjustedposition relative to thebasin.

10. A' device as described comprising a member adapted to hold a liquid,a'catch' basindisposed below the member, means disposed between themember and the basin for freezing a liquid carried by the member, andsupporting means for supporting said member in adjusted positionrelative to the catch basin, said supportingmeans being operable fromabove the member;

11. A device as described comprising a member adapted to hold a liquid,a catch basin disposed below the member, means disposed between themember and the basin for freezing a liquid carried by the member, andsupporting means for supporting said member in adjusted positionrelative to the catch basin and the freezing means, said supportingmeans being removable through the member.

' .12. A device as described comprising a plate, means for supportingthe plate in. an elevated position above a substantially horizontalsurface,

means for projecting a freezing means against the surface of the plateto freeze a liquid positioned thereon, said plate having an opening:

therethrough, and a closure for the opening to permit access through,the 'plateto the space below. the plate.

prising a 13. A device of the character describedcorn [prising a floormember adapted tohold a frozen liquid, means for supporting the floormember within apool' above the, bottom of the pool,1said supportingmeans including screwthreaded mem- I bers engaging the bottom foradjustably supporting the'member relative to the pool.

14. A device of the character described com plate for supporting theplate inan elevated horizontally disposed plate, screw.

position, a liquid cooling system, and means engaging said coolingsystem for projecting a cooling medium against the bottom of said. platewhereby to freeze a liquid disposed on the upper surface thereof. r 15.A device of the character described comprising the combination with atank structure and a liquid circulatingsystem for the tank, of a platesupported above the bottom of the tank and adapted to hold a liquidthereon, liquid cooling means interposed in the circulating system, andmeans disposed intermediate the plate and the bottom of the tank forprojecting a cooling medium against the lower surface of the plate.

16. A device of the character described comprising a plate adapted tohold a liquid on the upper surface thereof, a liquid collecting meansbelow the plate, means operable from above the plate and engaging thecollecting means for raising the plate, and means between the plate andthe collecting means for freezing a liquid carried by the plate. 1'7.Adevice as described comprising a member adapted to hold a liquid, acatch basin below the member, means disposed between the member and thebasin for freezing a liquid carried by the member, and means engagingthe member and the catch basin for raising the member relative to thecatch basin, said means being operable from above the member.

, 18." A device as described comprising a member adapted to hold aliquidga catch basin below member, and means engaging themember and thebasin for raising the member relative to the basin, said latter meansbeing removable through the member. I

19. A device as described comprising a plate, a catch basin below theplate, means for raising the plate relative to the catch basin; meansfor projecting a freezing means against the bottom of the plate, andmeans for obtaining access to thespace belowv the plate. v

20.jA device as described comprising a. plate adaptedto hold a liquid, acatch basin below the plate, means engaging the plate and the catchbasin for raising the plate relative to the basin, said means beingremovable through the plate, means for projecting a freezing meansagainst the surface of the plate to freeze a liquid positioned thereon,said plate having an opening therethrough, and a closure for the openingto permit access through the plate to the space therebelow. ""TL'Adevice as described comprising a horizontally disposed plate, screwthreaded elevating means swivelly supported below the plate andthreadably engaging the plate for raising or low the member, meansdisposed between the memher and the'basin for freezing a liquid carriedby the member, and means engaging the member (to elevate the memberrelative to the basin.

23. A device as described comprising a memberadapted to hold a liquid, acatch basin below the membeig means disposed between the member and thebasin for freezing a liquid carried by the member, and means operable atwill for elevating the member relative to the basin.

. 24'. A device as described comprising a member adapted to hold afrozen liquid, and a supporting means for the member, said supportingmeans including screw threaded means. engaging the member from below forsupporting. the member in an elevated position;

25. A device as described comprising a memberadapted to hold a frozenliquid, and a supporting means for the member, said supporting meansincluding members engaging the first member from below and removablethrough the first member.

'26. A device of the character described comprising the combination witha swimming pool,

structure, of a removably mounted plate, means for retaining a liquid onthe plate, means for supporting the plate above the bottom of the pool,and means intermediate the plate and the bottom of the pool forprojecting a cooling medium against the lower surface of the plate.

27. A device as described comprising the combination with a swimmingpool structure and a liquid circulating system for the pool, of aremovably mounted plate, means for retaining a liquid on the plate,means for supporting the plate in upwardly spaced relation to the bottomof the pool, liquid cooling means interposed the circulating system ofthe pool, and means disposed intermediate the plate and the bottom ofthe pool for projecting a cooling medium against the lower surface ofthe plate. 1

28. A device as described comprising the com-- bination with a swimmingpool structure and a liquid circulating system for the pool, of aremovably mounted plate adapted to substantially close the open top ofthe pool, means for retain ing a liquid on the plate, means forsupporting the plate above the bottom of the pool, liquid cooling meansinterposed in the circulatin system of the pool, and means disposedintermedi ate the plate and the bottom of the pool for projecting acooling medium against the lower surface of the plate.-

29. A device of the character described comprising the combination witha swimming pool structure, of a plate, screw threaded means forsupporting the plat-e within the walls of the pool structure in adjustedposition relative to the bottom of the pool, means for retaining aliquid on the upper surface of the plate, and means disposedbetween theplate and the bottom of the pool for freezing a liquid carried by theupper surface of the plate.

30. A device of the character described comprising the combination witha swimming pool structure of a relatively large plate, means forretaining a liquid on the plate, means for supporting the plate abovethe bottom of the pool structure, and means intermediate the plate andthe bottom of the pool and independent of the plate for projecting acooling medium against the lower surface of the plate.

31. A means for converting the basin of a swimming pool structure to anice skating rink comprising a member adapted to hold a frozen liquid andto be disposed at a point upwardly from the bottom of the basin, andmeans disposed below the member for freezing a liquid on the member,said means being disposed within the basin of the pool structure.

32. A means for converting the basin of a swimming pool structure to anice skating rink comprising a member adapted to hold a frozen liquid,means for supporting the member in upwardly spaced relation to the.bottom of the pool, and means independent of the member for freezing aliquid on the member, said latter means being disposed Within the basinof the pool structure.

33. A means for converting the basin of a swimming pool structure to anice skating rink comprising a member adapted to hold a frozen liquid,and means for supporting the member in upwardly spaced relation to thebottom of the pool structure, and means independent of the member and ofthe supporting means therefor to freeze a liquid on the member, saidlatter means being disposed within the basin of the pool structure.

34'. The combination with the basin of a swimming pool structure, of amember adapted to hold a frozen liquid and to engage the pool structurein a manner whereby the memberis disposed in upwardly spaced relation tobottom of the basin, and means disposed below the member for freezing aliquid on the member.

35. A converting means for the basin of a swimming pool'for convertingthe pool structure to an ice skating rinkpomprising the combination withthebasin of the pool structure, of a member adapted to hold a frozenliquid on one surface thereof, and means disposed below the member forfreezing a liquid on the member, said means being disposedv within'thebasin of the pool structure.

36. A means for converting the basin of a swimming pool structure to anice skating rink comprising a relatively flat member, means carried byone surface of the member for retaining a. liquid thereon forfreezing,means for supporting the member relative to the basin, and means belowthe member and independent thereof 'for freezing a liquid on the member,said latter means being disposed within the basin of the pool structure.

37. A means for converting the basin of a. swimming pool structure to anice skating rink comprising a member adapted to hold a frozen liquid,means for supporting the member adjacent the top of the basin, and meanssupported between the bottom of the member and the basin of the pool forfreezing a liquid on the member, said latter means being disposed withinthe basin of the pool structure.

38. A means for converting the basin of a swimming pool structure to anice skating rink comprising a member adapted to hold a frozen liquid andhaving an area to substantially enclose the top of the basin, means forsupporting the member in operative position, and means independent ofthe member and supported therebelow for freezing a liquid on the member,said latter means being disposed within the basin of the pool structure.

39. The combination with the basin of a swimming pool structure, of amember engaging the basin and adapted to hold a frozen liquid and havingan area substantially equal to the area of the basin engaged by themember, means for supporting the member relative to the basin, and meansindependent of the member and supported therebelow for freezing a liquidon the member, said latter means being disposed within the basin of thepool structure.

FRANK S. STRITE.

